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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: row · stand · bass · date · temple · racket · saw · toast

  1. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  14. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. I had a ________________ with my boss today.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. bass — the fish
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. row — to paddle
  9. saw — the tool
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. date — the fruit
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. stand — to bear
  17. toast — bread
  18. saw — the tool
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. row — a line
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. bass — low music
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. row — a quarrel

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com